Thought of the Day: Exceptions Are Against The Rules

Board game design has a very unique problem. You can't tell your users how to play, and you can't be there to show them either.

This means, your game rules have to be as simple as possible. No Exceptions, and I mean no exceptions to the rules, and no exceptions to the no exceptions rule too.

How many rule books have you read and thought this is a complicated game, and then have someone explain the rules and said, "oh, that's not as complex as I thought". Many-a-times this is because of multi-clause rules that add exceptions.

This is a trap that video game makers who moonlight as boardgame makers fall into quite easily. It's because we are used to having tutorial modes that handhold the player through the complex rules. No such luxury is available.

So remember, the rule is No Exceptions. And this rule allows for no exceptions